In “Fake News Fairytale,” a teenager in Macedonia regrets his role in affecting the outcome of the 2016 U.S. presidential election

Once upon a time, an economically depressed and largely forgotten town in the Balkans experienced a digital gold rush. The monthly salary in Veles, Macedonia had been $371; now young people were earning up to $16,000.

The year was 2016, and the gold was fake news.

The idea that fake news most likely helped Donald Trump get elected is, well, old news.

An Ohio University study published in April suggested that fake news dissuaded 4% of Barack Obama’s 2012 supporters from voting for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election.

However, the extent to which a network of teenagers in Macedonia remotely influenced the U.S. presidential election is still being uncovered.

“Fake News Fairytale,” directed by Kate Stonehill, is part of The Atlantic Selects, an online showcase of short documentaries from independent creators, curated by The Atlantic.